MINSK, 10 January (BelTA) – At present Belarus cannot implement the readmission agreement in the way that the European Union wants us to, Igor Fisenko, Head of the Central Consular Office of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told a press briefing held in BelTA's press center on 10 January to discuss the introduction of the five-day rule for visa-free travels in Belarus.
When asked about the possibility of facilitating the process of negotiations with the EU on the simplification of visa procedures, Igor Fisenko remarked that the European Union closely associates this issue with the conclusion of the readmission agreement. “It means that one agreement will not enter into force without the other,” the head of the Central Consular Office explained. “The simplification of visa procedures does not pose any serious problems. But this agreement is closely tied to the readmission agreement.”
“There was one agreement on this issue two years ago. However, there was a reappraisal of values after the migration crisis in Europe, including at the level of experts. In the current situation we do not think that we can fulfill the agreement on readmission as the European Union understands it. We do not have the necessary infrastructure for this,” Igor Fisenko said.
“We must be ready to receive the people who will return as part of the readmission procedure. Time and money are needed for it,” he added.
